14th Royal Welsh Fusiliers

[stevehowarth]

In reseaching 17534 Private Robert Walker Earnshaw I have learnt that he received severe injuries to his thigh and was sent back to Britain by 20th February 1917. I am assuming that he likely received these injuries in a raid on the German front line on 17th February 1917 somewhere in the Ypres salient. The post war War Diary synopsis notes that the Germans responded with heavy trench mortar and artillery barrages, hence my guess that Earnshaw was injured on this occasion.

Any information about this raid or Earnshaw would be gratefully appreciated.

steve

[Hywyn]

His papers survive.

I haven't read them recently but here is my extract

"Bomb wound (severe to face) accidentally on 17/2/1917, later trans to Lab Corps. Disch 1919. Died consumption 25/3/1921"

Hywyn

[stevehowarth]

Thanks Hywyn for the quick reply.

Which 'papers' are you referring to. I have documents from his service records from TNA but nothing i can decypher refers to "bomb wound (severe to face) accidentially on 17/2/1917..."

Steve

[Hywyn]

Yes, his service records. If you can still access them the look at image 11115.

Reading it again the date is ambiguous.

It says

Bomb wd face sev (accidental) Adm 13 Sty H Boulogne 17 2 1917

which could mean when he was admitted to that hospital on that date.

Looking at the war diary there is nil about a bombing accident in the couple of weeks before. By this stage though the Diary had dropped noting casualties. It doesn't even note the casualties for the raid apart from naming a couple of Officers.

Unfortunately the important sheet that would resolve it, i.e the casualty form, is not with the papers.

On the 9th Feb a raiding party of 5 Officers and 150 men were extracted from the battalion and sent to E Camp for training. This raid then took place, according to the diary ' at 3. 19 am on 17/18 Feb.

It's highly likely that the accident was during this training?

Hywyn

Edit: One of the trenches occupied by the battalion that week was called Skipton!

[stevehowarth]

Massive thanks for your help.

The reference in the service record to a wound to the face doesn't tie in with the 1921 local newspaper obituary (Craven Herald - http://www.cpgw.org.uk/craven_herald_articles.cfm?sID=00D-06&arID=4) which claims it was in the thigh. However, it also reports a wound in the jaw gained at Mamatz Wood (July 1916). I suppose the newspaper could have reported these the wrong way round!?

Curious!

Steve

[Hywyn]

Curious indeed Steve. I see that the entry we refer to is one made by the Labour Corps. He was transferred to them Oct 1918. Could be as error in extraction by them.

Having said that his papers do not seem to support a severe wounding at Mametz inasmuch as they show France June 1916 to Feb 1917 on two or three images. Also, there are huge RWF casualty lists (wounded) in the Times post Mametz. He is not on them. (neither is he on the ones post the raid on 17Feb 1917)

Shame his RWF Statement of Service has gone astray.

I see he is not on CWGC. Is he on any War Memorial? From what I read in his file he was discharged 100% disabled with TB, aggravated by military service. Consumption is the old word for TB so provided his death certificate shows that he would certainly be a strong candidate for submission. Make contact via PM if you want to pursue this. With due apologies if it's all in hand.

Hywyn

[asanewt]

Hello Steve, going back to the raid 18/02/17 I have considerable detail, war diary, raid report, maps, photo's if you are interested. Regards, Jules

[stevehowarth]

Jules, your collection on the raid sounds fascinating.

If Hywyn's theory about Earnshaw being injured in the training period is correct, I might start by pursuing any info relevant to that. How practical is it make the documents available? I'm not fully familiar with the Forum's technicalities.

[asanewt]

Steve, you have PM

[asanewt]

Steve, have sent info. via Welsh Gofar! Should be with you today/tomorrow. Any comment appreciated.